Archive for August, 2015

When someone accuses you of a crime you didn’t commit; you need help. The only way you can make your case is by hiring an expert who you believe you can trust. When it comes to finding the right lawyer, though, it can be more difficult than you expect. After all, the lawyer you choose has to understand your case in-depth. Hence, you need to find someone who has experience in the area and knows how to deal with people. Spend as much time as you need finding the right expert to help you.

When you first find a lawyer, you need to figure out what experience he has. Of course, there are many criminal lawyers out there, but they don’t all have the same background. You should question your lawyer and find out what cases they have dealt with before now. Of course, you can also investigate them online and see what you can find out. Often, when you see court reports, they name the defense lawyer. That means that you will know whether they tend to win cases or not.

Ask for recommendations

If you know anybody who has used a law firm before, you could ask them for recommendations. After all, if they had a good experience with a particular company, they may be worth trusting. You can also look at testimonials online to see whether there is anything about the firm there. If there is, you might find that you can read what people have to say about the company. Choose a service that you believe in and that seems legitimate. That way, you will have a chance to plead your case well.

Meet the lawyer in person

Before you agree to anything, you must meet the expert that you hire. That is to say that you should never hire anyone over the phone or via email. You need to get a sense of this person. You can learn a whole lot about someone by the way they come across in person. You should, of course, be conscious of the lawyer’s body language and how they talk to you. If you pay attention to these two things, you should glean how honest the expert is. If they seem to be genuine, you will know that they are the right person for you.

Write down what you need to know

Finally, when you go for your initial meeting, you need to have some questions ready. When you face criminal charges, you will doubtless have a million things you need to know. If you write everything down ahead of time, it means that you will know what to ask your lawyer. He or she should answer all your concerns in an honest way. If there is anything you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask again or ask for further details. It is of the utmost importance that you understand the ins and outs of your case. Having this knowledge should put your mind at rest.

No matter how small your business is, your company will need legal help at some point. Not only will hiring a lawyer protect you against expensive lawsuits, but they will also be able to give you help when you need it. While many startup businesses won’t even consider getting a lawyer in until they need one, it is advisable that they do. Here are several reasons why.

It costs less in the long-term

Having a business lawyer you can call on is cost-effective. Every company in the world will need substantial legal advice at some point. So, if you have someone on hand that already understands and knows your business, you will cut out a lot of the needless legal costs. You won’t need to pay a consultancy fee, or have to waste time – and money – taking hours to explain what you do. Your lawyer will know you well, and will also have a legal contacts book that he can use for particular situations.

It protects you and your business

It only takes a simple accident to ruin your business – and this is especially true if you have a small company or are a one-man band. According to solicitors Wilson Browne, a good lawyer should work on a preventable strategy, rather than a reactive one. That means giving you the right advice on everything from drawing up contracts, to providing a safe workspace. Because the law is so complicated, without that legal help, there is an excellent chance that you will make a mistake. As with many other things in life, it is better to be safe than sorry when your business is at stake.

Unfortunately, when your company runs into legal problems, they are very rarely expected. One minute you could be toasting your lucky month in sales, and the next you could be facing disaster from an employee lawsuit. Acting quickly is, of course, important here. So, by having your lawyer a phone call away already, they will be ready to get moving as soon as you need them.

It shows that you have integrity

If your business is run well and takes on board its legal duties, then it’s something to shout about. People will appreciate that you take your responsibilities properly. You could become renowned as a great company to work for and to do business with. People like to be safe when they buy things. Knowing that you are the sensible choice can often make the difference between you and your competitors.

Contracts are a pain

Keeping on top of your contracts is a tough task, especially when you don’t have the time. Think about the number of contracts you will get through as a company. You will make them with customers, suppliers, employees, and everyone else you come into contact with. And the worst thing? Everyone will be a little different. Having a lawyer on hand at all times is only going to help you. In our view, you’d be mad to discount it!

Car accidents are extremely common, so you have to be prepared if you’re ever in one. When your car gets bumped, or you’re in a crash, there are certain things you must do.

Assess The Damage

It’s important you move your vehicle out of harm’s way to look at the damage. Take a look at the body of your car and see if there are any noticeable dents or marks. In some cases, it will be obvious if there is damage. In others, it may require you to look closer. There are some small things that can easily end up costing a lot to fix, so be thorough.

Also, you should not only look at the damage to the car, but the damage to people too! Check to see if everyone is ok and that they don’t need medical assistance. If someone does need medical help, then you have to call the emergency services immediately. If you have first aid training, maybe you can help move them to safety and in a comfortable position to stop some of the pain.

Exchange Details

You have to exchange details if you’re ever in a car accident. You should exchange contact information and living address. But, you should also make sure to include the information of everyone at the scene. This includes people in the car with you and any witnesses. You’ll need all this information when the legal stage comes.

I must note that there is certain information you shouldn’t exchange at the scene. It’s vital that you don’t admit fault for the accident. As soon as you say sorry, or admit it was your fault, they have leverage. Even if it wasn’t your fault, if you just politely say sorry, then they can use that against you in court. Don’t reveal anything about your insurance policy either, and don’t give out sensitive information

Get Legal Help

You should look to hire a lawyer to help you after your accident. They can assess whether or not you’re able to make a claim and get some compensation. There are even some legal services that will investigate the accident in detail. This makes it easier for them to figure out if you were at fault, or if you’re the victim.

Once you’ve got the legal advice, then they can start setting things in motion. If you’re going to make a claim, or press charges, you may need to make a court appearance. Your lawyer will focus on getting everything in order, so you have the strongest case possible. Also, if you’re in the wrong, then a lawyer will help you build a solid defence case. A defence lawyer can seriously aid you in striking the best deal possible with the prosecution.

Follow these three steps and things will be a lot easier for you. You’ll find the process a lot more simple and less stressful. Plus, if you do all these things, you’ll be in a better position should you make a claim. It’s important you remember to complete all three steps, you can’t get away with just doing one or two.

It is hard to feel empathy because many of us have never been in that situation. All we can do is try and understand how you feel because going to jail is no joke. Thankfully we live in a democracy, so they don’t dump you in a cell and throw away the key. As a result, you have options, and one of those options is bail. If you apply for bail and you have never been in that situation before, here are the next steps you should consider.

Don’t Panic

Panicking only makes situations worse than they are, and that is the last thing you want to do in a prison cell. Everything’s not lost and around every cloud there is a silver lining, it is just hard to see it at certain times. In a matter of hours, you could be at home and sleeping in your bed. Just because you are in jail doesn’t mean you are going to stay in jail.

Make A Call

Obviously, you cannot post bail yourself, so you need someone you can trust. In a lot of cases, family members and friends won’t even know about your situation until you make a call. You might prefer to ring your lawyer, but in turn they will contact the right people and get the ball rolling. At the first chance, get on the phone.

Raise The Cash

Raising the cash by yourself is the best option if you have the money. You, or your family members, won’t be in debt because the money is all yours and not borrowed from other sources. Without the money, you won’t be released because the court has no leverage and doesn’t trust your actions or your words. Ask around and see if you can pool together the cash. For the sake of your defence and your sanity, it is important to get out of the prison environment.

Bondsman

You might not have the cash, or your family might not have the cash. Don’t worry because that doesn’t mean your hopes have been dashed. It just means you need to raise the money from alternative sources. The most conventional source is a bail, bondsman. Bondsmen offer bail bonds to the court to pay your bail. Why would they do that you ask? Well, it isn’t out of the goodness of their heart. If you fail to show up to court, you or a family member is liable to stump up the cash. However, it is a good alternative as long as you don’t make any silly mistakes. It is a quick source of finance, finance most people don’t have access to.

Go Home

Go home and try and relax. All you can do now is call your lawyer and talk to them about strategy and the next best steps. Worrying is part of the process, but there is no point getting overly agitated. Let your legal team do their job and do as your told.

It is an unfortunate situation to find yourself in, but it is not the end of the world. Post bail and take it one step at a time.